President Trump at school shooting 'listening session': 'We're gonna do something about this'

President Trump and Vice President Pence hosted a “listening session” on school shootings at the White House today, and Trump kicked things off by reassuring participants that “we’re gonna do something about this horrible situation.”

Pres Trump tells "listening session" on school shootings "we’re gonna do something about this horrible situation that's now going on." pic.twitter.com/vdyfyU5CfZ

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/966422834976305155

https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/966425050927820800

Pres Trump tells participants "we're gonna be very strong on background checks" for gun buyers. Also says he'll be strong on mental health issue & "do plenty of other things." "It's not going to be talk like it has been in the past. We're gonna get it done." Invites suggestions. pic.twitter.com/TdAOCcvBtK

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 21, 2018

Trump: "Background checks are going to be very strong."

— Ken Thomas (@KThomasDC) February 21, 2018

"I encourage you to be candid and be vulnerable," Pence says, asking for people to share opinions on what they want them to do. He then adds, "The president has already taken action."

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018

Included in the listening session were survivors of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting and their parents, as well as representatives from the group Sandy Hook Promise.

Taking part in Pres Trump's "listening session" on school safety include local officials and students, parents and teachers: pic.twitter.com/5yTNoMvyGM

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 21, 2018

Sec. of Education Betsy DeVos: "What happened last week shocked us. It angers us. We are here to have an honest conversation about why this tragedy and too many others before it happened, and how we can work to find solutions." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/uT8suANzCJ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Julia Cordorver, to Pres. Trump on moving gun safety legislation forward: "I'm confident that you will do the right thing." https://t.co/k7MxPTL3tO pic.twitter.com/Q8Obq34a5S

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 21, 2018

"I'm only 15, I'm a sophomore. 19 years ago, the first school shooting in Columbine happened. And I was born into a world where I never got to experience safety and peace. There needs to be significant change in this country, because this has to never happen again." pic.twitter.com/vNaBIWoXlX

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

Andrew Pollack, father of victim Meadow Pollack: "I am here because my daughter has no voice. She was murdered last week and she was taken from us. Shot 9 times, on the third floor. We, as a country, failed our children. This shouldn't happen." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/HwyCxtxuUK

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

Andrew Pollack, father of Parkland victim Meadow Pollack: "We go to the airport, I can't get on a plane with a bottle of water. But we– some animal could walk into a school and shoot our children. It's just not right." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/jxZLPif2i5

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

"It should have been one school shooting & we should have fixed it. I'm pissed. Because my daughter — I'm not going to see again. She is not here. She is in North Lauderdale, whatever it is, in King David Cemetery. That is where I go to see my kid now." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/FDGSwuEl7b

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

What are the odds that a civil discussion with the president and vice president will do more to advance gun control measures than the marches and school walk-outs that have already been scheduled? Trump certainly seems receptive.

I don't personally know how the White House selected this group of Douglas students, but so far, Trump hasn't heard any criticism or any calls for gun control.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018

Wait for it …

Douglas student Justin Gruber, emotional, says students need to be safe at school. "There needs to be some change," he says.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018

Cary Gruber, father of Justin, makes the session's first call for gun control, appearing to endorse a higher age minimum: "If he's not old enough to buy a beer, he should not be able to buy a gun at 18 years old." He notes that Israel has tough gun control measures.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2018

Samuel Zeif, Stoneman Douglas student: "I don't understand, I turned 18 the day after [the shooting]. Woke up to the news that my best friend was gone. And I don't understand why I can still go in a store and buy a weapon of war. An AR." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/sNB9k7o4ip

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

"How is it that easy to buy this type of weapon?" Stoneman Douglas student Samuel Zeif says. "How do we not stop this after Columbine? After Sandy Hook? I'm sitting with a mother that lost her son. It is still happening." https://t.co/qLL6Kp8HYo pic.twitter.com/UuuBN9Whfc

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018

This entire listening session is a truly extraordinary scene. The White House is letting folks with vastly divergent views (even some that the president disagrees with) publicly express them emotionally right to his face.

— Curtis Kalin (@CurtisKalin) February 21, 2018

Of course, the Democrats weighed in by doubling down on their stance that thoughts and prayers are meaningless.

Will Trump do more than pay lip service to gun safety reforms? Or will he offer these students and teachers more empty rhetoric, thoughts, & prayers like the GOP always does? https://t.co/EC7WC5y2Wf

— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) February 21, 2018

Nothing wrong with legislating for change, but if you keep up the snarky, condescending bullshit on 'thoughts & prayers,' I'll be voting for whomever doesn't go out of their way to insult my beliefs. https://t.co/coW7mZ9JzO

— Farbrook (@dutchindian) February 21, 2018

We’re shocked … SHOCKED … that the party that booed God at its 2012 convention would have anything against thoughts and prayers.